Given the size of the Malayalee diaspora in the UAE, it is somewhat surprising that Krishna Chandran was the first Keralite to play for United Arab Emirates when he was named in their squad for the Asian Cricket Council Premier League tournament in May 2014. He originally moved to the region from India in 2010, his cricket background helping him to land a job.

A middle order batsman and medium pacer, Krishna Chandran had represented Mahaveer Jain College in Bangalore before moving through Kerala age-group teams from U-19 to U-25. He got a couple of games for the full side in the 2007-08 Vijay Hazare Trophy, but when further opportunities weren't forthcoming he left for UAE in 2010. As the respected captain of Fanatics Cricket Club, he caught the eye of the national selectors, with half-centuries against New Zealand and Pakistan A sides leading to an ODI debut against Afghanistan and a place in UAE's World Cup squad.Liam Brickhill